London, November 4:

Shane Bond has spoken of his unhappiness with the way he has been treated by New Zealand

Cricket and said that he will not play for his country again, even if the stand-off with the Indian Cricket League (ICL) is resolved.

“I’m disappointed with the way my country’s cricket board treated me,” he said. “I don’t want to represent New Zealand in Test matches or one-day internationals any more. Despite clearing me for the tournament earlier, the cricket board later changed their mind and stepped back from their stand. I am quite disappointed with that. I still enjoy playing cricket. I’m having a great time with the game, which has given me career and financial security.”

Bond said he joined ICL after getting an assurance from the New Zealand board that he would be able to play international cricket. However, the board backtracked and he was asked to choose between ICL and New Zealand. He was disappointed with the way his international career ended.

“There were lots of politics going on in the background. It was disappointing not to finish on your terms for New Zealand. Playing the last game and have your family come and get to watch it.” Bond said financial reasons had prompted him to join the league.

“I didn’t know then I was not going to play for New Zealand, of course. You are always worried about kids; to give more than you got. After ICL, the financial pressure was off. I was

just realistic. From the financial side it was just common sense.”

Asked whether he joined ICL because New Zealand was in decline as a team and would he have done it if he were playing for a strong team like Australia, Bond said he couldn’t answer the hypothetical scenario.

He also lashed out at the administrators who were preventing ICL players from participating in official cricket.

“I was five when I started dreaming about playing cricket for New Zealand and someone, a bureaucrat, who has never played the game, takes it away from me. It’s just ridiculous,” he said.

If this sort of behaviour carries on and players get banned the game loses its credibility.” Before joining the league, Bond had offers from both Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICL but chose the latter, as the contract was better.